The adventure begins. Step 1: template. I based this on my Strat, with some minor changes to the contours that I freehanded. I started by tracing it onto construction paper then cut it out.

Next I used that to trace the outline onto plywood which I rough cut to shape with a jigsaw. I finished it up by sanding to the line using my oscillating spindle sander.

It wasn't strictly necessary to make both a paper and a plywood template but I felt it easier to work with the shape on paper first before I committed to it. Next step will be to use the plywood as a router template to cut the full size body blank. I bought a couple of blanks on eBay which should be here tomorrow.